Did Trump's election embolden women to speak out against harassers?

In this 2005 image from video, Donald Trump prepares for an appearance on "Days of Our Lives" with actress Arianne Zucker. He is accompanied to the set by Access Hollywood host Billy Bush.

In this 2005 image from video, Donald Trump prepares for an appearance on "Days of Our Lives" with actress Arianne Zucker. He is accompanied to the set by Access Hollywood host Billy Bush. (The Washington Post)

Something led to this avalanche of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations against powerful men in entertainment, politics and the media, and I wonder if it wasn’t, at least in part, the election of Donald Trump.

A moment is unfolding right now — brave women across the country are detailing hideous male behavior that has gone largely unpunished, and they’re standing up in numbers that make it impossible for their alleged harassers to brush them off.

On Thursday, The Washington Post told the story of a woman who claims Roy Moore of Alabama, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, had a sexual encounter with her when she was 14 and he was in his 30s. Three other women told the Post similar stories about Moore pursuing them when they were between the ages of 16 and 18.

Women are speaking up, boldly and in big numbers, and people are paying attention, as they should. This is a national moment, and you don’t get moments without a trigger.

That trigger may well have been the sight of a man with a long history of loutish behavior becoming president of the United States.

A recording came out during the campaign that allowed every American to hear Trump bragging about grabbing women by their private parts. He was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by more than 10 women, one of whom he demeaned by suggesting she was too unattractive for him.

And he won. Without apology. Without giving an inch.

An accused serial sexual assaulter shook off the allegations and became the most powerful person in the world. It was male privilege writ large.

So perhaps that was the trigger that led us to this moment. Which raises the question: What if the “Access Hollywood” tape of Trump, and the accompanying accusations of sexual assault against him, came out now?

Would more people believe them? Would the accusations matter more? Would people feel the same disgust they’re feeling reading allegations against Weinstein and Spacey and Moore?

Jessica Leeds, who claims Trump groped her on a plane 30 years ago, recently told The Washington Post, “It is hard to reconcile that Harvey Weinstein could be brought down with this, and Trump just continues to be the Teflon Don.”

But that’s where we are. The powerful men now being brought down by women coming forward are not of one political persuasion. It isn’t about ideology, it’s about men behaving like monsters.

So if we condemn Weinstein or Louis C.K. or O’Reilly, why do the numerous allegations against the president no longer seem to matter? Why didn’t they matter enough last year to bring Trump down?

Why aren’t they being revisited now as Americans grimace in disgust at the scope of harassment and assault claims against a lengthening list of men?

I don’t know if any of those questions will be answered. But I think Trump unwittingly led us to this moment.